INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 25 
Leichhardt, Gould, W. Sharpe, M‘Leay, Gunn, Milligan, Sprent, 
Davy, Jukes, Haast, McKinlay, Clarke, Castleman, Tenison- 
Woods, Scortechini will have left for future inspiration and due 
gratitude many science-bequests of enduring value, gained largely 
on Australian soil ; yet some loneliness of its own may perhaps 
be felt through missing them, for which the contact with a 
younger generation can perhaps not always fully compensate. 
Individual life at best is but short; through “the advance- 
ment of science” it can be prolonged, can be rendered capable of 
much augmented achievement, can be made susceptible to multi- 
plied enjoyments and much increased usefulness. We advance 
towards a greater future ; what would we wish man’s destiny in 
life to be? Can unprosperity be banished through ae a in- 
dustrial productiveness? Can contentions be abolished by a 
universal recognition of rights? Can savagedom early be made 
to cease 4 Can finally each human being be educated to higher 
and worthier ideals? Can atheism be inaddé to vanish ? Can 
knowledge with its Baconian password bring its power to 
bear, to accomplish these most transcendental of objects? Can 
as interpreters of answers to such cosmopolitan questions all 
bearers of science throughout the world unite in a mental 
brotherhood ? 
And now some few closing words. Though while coming 
together in this Association we do not engage in_ political 
discussions, yet in one aspect we might venture, to diverge from 
the strict path, marked out for science-votaries—it is in this, to 
foster also through ovr bonds the “union of the empire,” under 
permanent British supremacy. ‘This must be the ardent wish of 
every true subject of our gracious Sovereign. Thereto point the 
grandest traditions, prominence in history, world-wide national 
influence, immeasurable strength of the realm, irresistible patriotic 
sentiments ; thereto also leads us veneration for the great home- 
land, with its keen sense of justice, philanthropic clemency, 
practical tendencies and indomitable energy. May the reflex rays 
of that national greatness fall ever unobscured on us also here! 
What are we, whether in science or in any other consideration, 
without Britain in all its prototypic bearings and glory? Take 
this away, sever us from this, then the best of impulses, the greater 
confidence in our purposes, as well as our main guidance and 
security, would be lost! And where would be our gratitude ? 
Britain bestowed on us a whole continent, with oceanic 
boundaries, within salubrious zones, exempt from autochthonic 
complications, with resources uncountable—all as a free gift, 
as an unencumbered patrimony. The solidity of a great empire 
will also be a guarantee for the best-connected and most luminous 
of science-progress in all dominions, over which its sceptre sways ; 
it will ever signalise a power, by which knowledge and enlighten- 
ment and indeed religious reverence also, will be carried 
